Coney took part in our Prosper programme 2017-2018. Business support helped set a path to innovation in repayable finance.

Coney are ‘interactive theatre-makers who create games, adventures and play where people can choose to take a meaningful part’. Their work takes place anywhere that people gather: theatres, schools, museums, on the streets and online, following the principles of ‘adventure, curiosity and loveliness’.

The organisation works in a number of areas:

Their work takes place anywhere that people gather: theatres, schools, museums, on the streets and online, following the principles of ‘adventure, curiosity and loveliness’.

The organisation makes ‘play’ with ideas that resonate in the world around us: ‘from the every day to the extraordinary’.

Their work is ‘inspired by the belief that the world can be a magical place where ordinary people can do extraordinary things’.

‘Collaboration and dialogue are at the heart of how we make work: with audiences, peers, partners, and a network of makers’.

Coney used virtually all of their credits of the Prosper programme on a Business Advisor and accessed the Webinar ‘Introduction to Theory of Change’.

Key business outcomes

Coney reported the following business outcomes from using Prosper

01

Accessed grant funding

Coney received support from NESTA’s ‘Arts Impact Fund’ for them to apply for ‘Reach’ grant funding. This application was successful, and Coney received £15,000 to assist them in becoming ‘investment ready’.

02

Advanced services

Coney progressed towards their aim that types of repayable finance will fund arts-based support activity for ex-offenders on probation via their becoming a service provider for local authorities.

03

Innovating between finance and the arts

Coney have set a path to innovation: the repayable finance is founded on a revenue-based project with social outcome indicators (ex-offenders do not go back into custody). The arts are not commonly involved in this kind of finance.

Prosper meet up

Participants share their thoughts as the programme comes to an end

Conclusions

Prosper was a major success. Coney said, “The worth of [the Business Advisor] is in the many thousands.” and “The worth of [the Business Advisor] is in the many thousands.”